What a beautiful drum!! Sorry, I can`t offer assistance...

Cheers

It occurs to me that this drum has been fixed up a bit for presentation.

The ropes and ears look relatively new and the heads don't have that weathered look.

I would ask if the museum has any photos of when the drum was found.

Another idea would be to research 17 century art for a clue to general construction.

Bear in mind that the number of snares would probably be less than what is now considered normal.

Let us know of your progress!

The few antique rope tension drums I have experience with utilized long strips of twisted rawhide strands extending across the bottom head for snares. There is a possibility that your drum could have been used as a tambor style drum without using snares. But presuming that it was indeed a snare drum it is likely that twisted rawhide strands (or gut) were actually tucked under the wood hoops on either side of the drum and stretched across the bottom head in a "fixed" position so that they were always engaged and not expected to be released. The notched bed in the shell would then allow the strands to seat themselves against the head. This is just an educated guess on my part. Further research on your part will likely provide the answer.

I agree completely with Buckie's reply above and can add that the gut snares from this time period tended to be large diameter and looped from one side. The looping is accomplished by use of a small rectangular piece of leather that has a series of holes in a line in the center (precursor to the snare "butt"). The snares are dampened and then looped through the leather to their center. So a snare strand travels from the opposite side (no piece of leather) across the head, through the leather piece, and back again. The total number of snare strands is fewer than modern drums, some have only four or six stands. The opposite side of the drum (where a strainer is later added) just has the loose snares placed between the bottom head and the wooden counter hoop. You can pull them tight before they lose all of their moisture and then tighten the head using the buffs or ears to hold them in place. They may also have been tied (bundled) with a piece of small rawhide that shrinks when it dries. You can get more information on early drum design from some James Blades books and also two books by Jeremy Montagu (Making Early Percussion Instruments, 1976, and Early Percussion Instruments from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, with Blades, also 1976 both by Oxford University Press). You can contact Potter's of Aldershot and the Company of Fifers and Drummers in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Thank you for preserving history and good luck with your project.